Vera

The morning light filtered softly through the towering windows of the Bellanti estate, painting golden patterns across the polished floors. For weeks, life had settled into a rhythm that was almost blissfully ordinary—Vanessa laughing through the gardens, Nicolas working in his office, me overseeing the estate’s affairs and my jewelry business from a quiet corner of the mansion.

But this morning, something felt… off.

I couldn’t place it immediately. The birds chirped normally, ...